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After a huge scare last weekend, we could likely see DeMarcus Ware back on the field this Saturday night in New Orleans.

Coach Phillips reported that if the game had been Wednesday, Ware would not have played but it would have been close. He hasn’t lost any strength or motion, it seems to be more of a soreness issue. If by chance Ware does not play, Victor Butler will be his replacement.

Safety Ken Hamlin has missed the last four games with an ankle injury but is now fully recovered and ready to roll. Hamlin is pumped up about the Saints game this weekend and cannot wait to get back into the action.

“I’m a competitor. I want to be out on the field.

“It’s going to be an exciting game. I’m ready to get back and start playing.”

Tight end Martellus Bennett will be out again this week after suffering a concussion two weeks ago. He hasn’t practiced since the injury occurred. Rookie John Phillips will replace Bennett in the lineup.

Safety Pat Watkins is also out with a sprained left PCL. Alan Ball will fill Watkins shoes as backup safety and on special teams. Ball has started the four games that Ken Hamlin has missed.

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Personally I’m praying for Ware’s recovery, you definitely need your best defensive player in the game when you are going up against one of the best, if not the best, offenses in the league. The Cowboys need this win desperately after losing their division lead and any hopes of a playoff run could be determined this weekend.

With the game tied at 10 and 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter, DeMarcus Ware appeared to have suffered a neck injury. The game was delayed for 12 minutes while they tended to Ware on the field until finally carting him off.

As he left the field Ware could be seen giving a thumbs up to the crowd who cheered for him and gave their best wishes.

He was replaced in the lineup by Victor Butler.

We will give you more details as news filters in.

On behalf of everyone at Lone Star Struck our prayers go out to DeMarcus Ware for a speedy recovery.

UPDATE 5:53 p.m.: CBS Sports is reporting that DeMarcus Ware may have sprained his neck and is undergoing precautionary x-rays. They also reported that Ware had full movement. Needless to say this is good news.

The Cowboys offense showed off some big plays in Sundays Week 1 win over Tampa Bay. They escaped the heat and humidity of Florida and they also seemed to have escaped some injuries to key players on offense and defense.

Tony Romo

Tony Romo suffered a right ankle injury late in the third quarter Sunday. He could be seen limping from time to time in the fourth quarter. MRI results today showed no structural damage to the ankle. Romo should be fine for next Sunday’s division match-up against the Giants.

Felix Jones

Felix Jones only had six carries against Tampa Bay due to a thigh bruise he suffered in the first half. Jones was not limping today, but it’s unknown whether he will practice on Wednesday. Miles Austin replaced Jones on Kickoff returns and Tashard Choice played on some 3rd downs. Let’s all hope he is ready for next weeks game.

“He didn’t play quite as much as we thought he was going to,” Phillips said of Jones, who didn’t appear to be limping Monday. “I believe (Marion) Barber had 30 plays, Felix had 15 and Choice had seven. That’s about how it went.”

Gerald Sensabaugh

Gerald Sensabaugh suffered a rib injury in the 3rd quarter with a hit to Bucs receiver Mark Clayton. X-rays on Sensabaugh’s ribs were negative. He said he is feeling fine today and will be ready to go.

“I just had some sharp pain,” Sensabaugh said. “Initially the breath was knocked out of me; I had some sharp pain in my back. I knew it wasn’t that serious. That’s why I tried to get up.”

DeMarcus Ware

DeMarcus Ware left the game in the first quarter after a hit to the head. He returned a few plays later, but said that it took awhile to get his straight after returning. He said he is feeling fine and will be ready to go against the Giants.

Wade Phillips takes the blame

The Bucs gained 176 yards rushing on the Dallas defense on Sunday. That won’t get it done in the tough NFC East with backs like Brian Westbrook, Clinton Portis and Brandon Jacobs. Wade Phillips who now runs the defense said they were trying many different things in the first half to try and confuse the Bucs offensive line. Phillips decided to go back to basics in the second half where they played better.

“We wanted to be aggressive and I thought we’d make a play in the backfield, which we almost did a couple of times,” Phillips said. “But, the longer runs they hit on us were we just didn’t hit the right gaps and just basically gave it to them… I blame it on myself first. We didn’t do it enough in the run game practices I think.”

It’s been reported by ESPN that rookie offensive lineman Robert Brewster will miss the entire 2009 season. Brewster apparently suffered at torn pectoral muscle following the June mini-camps. Big loss for an offensive line that really needed to develop some depth.

“I can’t even tell you how disappointed he is,” Brewster’s agent, Cliff Brady said. “I’m trying to keep him positive, [saying] ‘Look, let’s just take this year to work on you and your body and learn the system. You can miss a lot or as little as possible depending on how smart you are.’ He’s a smart kid. He just wants to play so bad.”

“It’s a real disappointing man . . . you don’t even know,” Brewster said late Monday afternoon. “I was supposed to come in and help the team and I was supposed to get in there and start learning. It’s real disappointing especially because I’ve never been injured before. I started all the games in college, and I never missed one. So now that I’m going to miss my whole rookie year, I can’t believe it.”

“I really didn’t know what my role would be this year,” Brewster said. “But I was just trying to learn as much as I could. I will tell you this . . . you won’t see anyone come back stronger than I will. I am going to use this as motivation as much as I can. If this is going to be my ‘redshirt’ year, that’s fine. But I will try to make this a positive for me.

“It’s just tough right now because the off-season was going so great for me. I was working really hard with (strength and conditioning coach Joe Juraszek). Working with Joe, I never missed a day. I was even getting extra work in. I was changing my entire body. I was at the point where I was the strongest I’ve ever been.”

“I was in the weight room and it wasn’t any different this time. We were in there, going hard like we have all summer,” Brewster said. “I was busting my tail and as I got to my last rep, I just felt like someone pinched me in the arm. And then I heard a big pop in my arm. I found out it was my pec. I couldn’t believe it.”

Three more draft picks signed four year deal on Monday. Brandon Williams (LB), Michael Hamlin (S) and David Buehler (K) will be reporting to camp on time. That leaves three draft picks that need to be signed in the next 24 hours. Jason Williams (LB), Stephen McGee (QB) and Robert Brewster (OL) are now on the clock to be signed. Once Brewster is signed he will most likely be placed on the physically unable to perform list. All three are expected to be signed in time.

Wide receiver Isaiah Stanback underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his right knee.

Stanback suffered the injury in Tuesday’s workout at Standridge Stadium but attempted to practice Wednesday without much success.

He is expected to be ready for training camp that starts on July 28.

Oh man, not again. This guy has been nothing but injury prone from the start. Jerry Jones has so much invested in the Stanback project and continues to talk like he’s worth the time, money and roster spot, even though he’s only played in 10 games in 2 years.

Just when you thought things were already bad in Cowboys Nation, we have been hit with another significant blow as Cowboy’s kicker Nick Folk underwent surgery for his ailing hip.

The Star Telegram writes,

The Dallas Cowboys’ special teams unit, which already was reeling after coach Joe DeCamillis’ back injury suffered in Saturday’s collapse of the indoor practice facility, received another setback Wednesday when kicker Nick Folk underwent hip surgery.

Folk had surgery to repair a labral tear in his right hip. He is expected to miss eight weeks before he is able to resume light kicking. The Cowboys hope he will be ready for his full kicking load by training camp in late July.

The surgery was performed in Denver by Dr. Mark Phillipon, considered one of the nation’s top hip specialists.

The third-year kicker made 20 of 22 field-goal attempts last season and is 46-of-53 for his career. He made the Pro Bowl as a rookie.

We now have a better understanding of why the Cowboys drafted David Buehler in the fifth round of the NFL Draft.

The hip that began bothering Folk late in the season never got better, and so the Cowboys decided on surgery after almost five months with no improvement. I only hope they didn’t wait too late as this is a significant injury for any player let alone a kicker.

The team’s decision to draft Southern Cal kicker David Buehler last month now becomes so much clearer. With Buehler in the fold, the Cowboys have themselves an excellent contingency plan if Folk suffers any setbacks during his 8-12 weeks of recovery and rehab.